why when buying chicks from tsc ,feed store, hatchery do you have to buy at least 6?

[jc Purtle]

I recently purchased some chicks from the farmers co- op,tryed to get away with only buying 4 ,but they made me buy 6. I kinda expected it because tsc had signs but the clerk there said I lucked out and at that time for some reason there were only 4 left.I asked both places why and neither could answer .I goggled and had no luck there either .I'm just curious because I create pens and runs for certain breeds and I don't want 25 of the same bird .

 

[Ridgerunner]

It’s an attempt to stop people from buying one chick as a gift to a child who cannot take care of the bird and whose parents may not want it. That happens a lot around Easter. It’s an animal cruelty thing.

 

[Going Quackers]

With large hatcheries it's a bottom line kind of thing, they need to produce ___ x many to make profit by limits being enforced it keeps them flowing financially, many are now reducing the min to attract the smaller backyard keeper but then often charge small order fees.

Now some places may enforce minimums to lesson neglect but that is more based on store policies and breeders vs the hatcheries.

 

[donrae]

My understanding is it's the state law in some states. Here in Oregon, not so much. I can buy one single little chick if I choose.

 

[6of6chicks]

I asked the feed store guy about it and he said it was to prevent people putting one chick in the Easter basket simply for cuteness. That chick then gets dumped in the trash, the yard, the side of the road, etc. But he also said it is more strictly enforced at more 'big-box' kind of places like TSC than it is at a mom and pop kind of feed store. The average Easter-basket-chick kind of person probably isn't going to drive to a remote feed store just to try to get one chick. Plus the local guy spent a lot of time talking to me, which I think he does with everyone, so he can spot legitimate chicken folks and will sell just a few to those folks.

Just worked out that I happened to buy 6 chicks, but that wasn't because of the law. 3 people x 6 buff orpingtons gave me the approximate number of eggs I was looking for each week (estimated, of course).

 

[jc Purtle]

Thank you , I was puzzled about the weird rules I can understand about easter chicks ,and hatcheries bottom line. I went to a chicken swap (which is rare to find around here).they let me get 4 of each breed .I wish there were more ,I was like a kid in a candy store!I don't prefer to buy my chicks from tsc, but its the convenience factor.